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Georgia

Kirby Smart embracing the challenge of playing in 'unique' environment at South Carolina

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•09/14/22•

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Georgia Coach Kirby Smart during a game against Samford on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo by Jack Ozmer)

For the first time this season, Georgia will be hitting the road. Head coach Kirby Smart will lead his team into Williams-Brice Stadium, where South Carolina will be looking to pull off the upset against the No. 1 team in the country. It’s an early SEC showdown, with plenty of implications on the table for both squads.

Heading into the game, Smart said his Georgia team is “excited” to play on the road. He thinks last season’s schedule will help Georgia against South Carolina, citing Auburn and Tennessee‘s home crowd as two of the better the Bulldogs faced last season. Now going up against the Gamecocks, Smart knows they will have a ruckus environment to go up against.

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“The guys are excited,” Smart said. “Anytime you get an SEC road opponent — something about going on the road. You embrace that environment. Most of our kids love going into the SEC and playing on the road. Last year, Tennessee and Auburn stick out as pretty unique environments and I think South Carolina is in line of that as far as their fan base.”

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Kirby Smart thinks younger players still getting used to road games

When COVID-19 hit, SEC stadium atmospheres did as well. There was nowhere near 100% of fans inside of games meaning some younger players still have not fully experienced road games within the conference. Smart pointed out that this will be the first time for most to enter a full-capacity Williams-Brice Stadium.

“Last year, unique for everybody because we were coming off COVID,” said Smart. “I mean, none of the kids had really seen an environment like that. So we have two classes of guys who had not and now, most of them got to see it last year. Our freshman group, will be their first time getting to see that Rukus and Route bus arrival and the white towels. It’s something that our kids embrace and we look forward to that environment.”

Georgia has won three straight against South Carolina on the road under Smart. It’s recently been an early season rivalry that’s set the tone of the entire season. If the Gamecock fans can set the precedent early from an atmosphere standpoint, the team on the field would greatly benefit as well — hoping to break that losing streak.